An electronic apparatus includes a recording medium container into which a recording medium unit is detachably loaded and that has an insertion inlet through which the recording medium unit is loaded. A cover is detachably attached to the insertion inlet of the recording medium container. A first detector is configured to detect a first state in which the cover is removed from the insertion inlet. A second detector is configured to detect a second state in which the recording medium unit is unloaded from the recording medium container. Stopping means is configured to stop supplying power from a power supply to a load if at least one of the first and second detectors detect at least one of the first and second states.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An electronic apparatus in which a power supply powers electric loads including an electric load concerning drive of a recording medium unit, the apparatus comprising: a recording medium container into which the recording medium unit is detachably loaded and which has an insertion inlet through which the recording medium unit is loaded and unloaded; a cover detachably attached to the recording medium container to cover the insertion inlet; a first detector placed to detect a first state in which the cover has been removed from the insertion inlet; a second detector placed to detect a second state in which the recording medium unit has unloaded from the recording medium container; and stopping means configured to stop supplying power from the power supply to the load when at least one of the first and second detectors detect at least one of the first and second states.
2. The electronic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein both of the first and second detectors are disposed in parallel at the insertion inlet.
3. The electronic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cover has a protrusion formed thereon and the first detector is configured to selectively detect either one of a contact to the protrusion and a non-contact from the protrusion.
4. The electronic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the recording medium unit has an overhanging member formed on a rear end of the recording medium unit and the second detector is configured to selectively detect either one of a contact to the overhanging member and a non-contact from the overhanging member.
5. A method of controlling power supply in an electronic apparatus in which a power supply powers electric loads including an electric load concerning drive of a recording medium unit detachably loaded into a recording medium container having an insertion inlet through which the recording medium unit is loaded and unloaded, a cover being detachably attached to the insertion inlet of the recording medium container, the method comprising steps of: first detecting a first state in which the cover has been removed from the insertion inlet; second detecting a second state in which the recording medium unit has unloaded from the recording medium container; and stopping supplying power from the power supply to the loads when at least one of the first and second states is detected.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
June 9, 2004
January 17, 2006
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.